Apparatus for dehydrating fruit, vegetables, and other products



March 6, 1945. 1' VE|T 2,370,825

APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING FRUIT, vEGETALfrizs,l AND OTHER PRODUCTS Filed Aug. 5, 1942 .6 Sheets- Sheetll la', w 29 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. vElT AFiled Aug. 5, 1942 March 6, 1945.

APPARATUS FOR'DEHYDRATING FRUIT, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS T. VEIT APPARATUS FOR DHYDRATING FRUIT, VEKIE'IABLES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS March 6, 1945.

Filed Aug. 5", 1942 46 Sheets-Sheet- 3 Raz WMO

Fa y T. VEIT APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATvING FRUIT, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS ,6 Sheets-Sheet 4j Filed Aug. 5, 1942 T s ///A y. Hl! .Wlll s s N a f Q m. ilriri l[vll: Hlwlfll,

T. VElT 2,370,825 AND OTHER PRobUc'Ts Filed Aug. 5, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 .w1 ma R um Ef l W@ Q w .4 m

March 6, 1945. T. vElT 2,370,825

APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING FRUIT, YEGETABLES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS Filed Aug. 5, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IW/Ty. zy.

l INVENToR. Th oder [fe/f.

- then subjected t'o'the'tdction off a iscooled by subjecting Patentedl Mar. 6, 1.945

APPARATUS #Fon 'DEHYDRA'HNG ERUIT, VEGETABLES; AND of-rHER Pnonoo'rs @man veegmmqrk, Application Angustia, 1942', serial-No: ziesl (or. :J9-e246l ,ZZGlaims This` inventifm relates no the ldjerxyfiratin,g Qjf dratingthe same issubjectedtotreatment to blanch anti/o1"v preservewhecolr', avor and'efood `value of thev product; andf it is'the ,pri-mary" ob'- ject of the invention to: provideewmproyed method ofv and apparatusffor'treatng and dehy-l ldrawing4 fruit, vegetables andother" product/'fs'.

blanching andi dehydrating 'thief-)product it' is cleaned and -insomecasesl the fruit-for yegetebles are pared and cutintoslices'or.piecesof cubform lamd;preferablypierced-iafterWiol' the productiis delivered ,toL means for feeding-and- Aspreading'"the same Orr-a. deck" or decks`- mountediin a -vibratory casing andeparti'cipatingl inthe .vioratory-movement thereofwlflereloyl tll'ejproducton'J the de'ck'si's progressivelxrrr fed from' the feed end. Atio theV di'scharge-end 'of the-casing, and;duringsaiwfeeding4 of thel product" 'it 'is subj@todito-*the'action offsteam preferablysuperheatedsteam, to'o-lagnch vthe product` and'in` casev of certain* products ait action of`a Ad'ehydrating;*medium sucl asian heated to a temperature above 200 degrees-Fi -to effect a: primar-y dehydrating of-thejpi'oduct-i and degrees- F., after which* tl-'e dehydrated product theisanie' to Lthe'actionfo'f c y l, :35

cooling air. l

It .is ytheprirmip'alobj ectfof'ftl invention-tomto- K vide' 2m'l improvedlunitary'apparatus-fiortreating and 'dehydrettinglY fruit; vegetablesianoth'er products including an operr endc`5asi11g carry-ingf therein decks forv supporting theproduety meanseing at? the forward e'ndf of the casing; v3,1m#the-'p''rovision of f means f to 're'silie'ntly support? the" casing e and impart-vibratoryfmovernerit'thereto adffed the product onthe deck byanf intermittleritmoy'ethe casing, and meansvto separatethecasgeinto y a blanching zone, primary and'iinal'dehydiating zones aindar cooling zoneforjth'e,Clydratedprod uct; the' blanchingzone havingmeansc'onnected ,provision in dehydretingemmatus fth'is" hdi* rv40, -provided forfeeding thepi'o'ductlon'to Miei-decks A4|50 theretofor discharging" a," ldla'nclingl medium in said zone, the dehydrating.Zoneshving'means connected theretoi for connecting; saidv zo'li'es" in ciroulationf'with af .sourceof-fthe'dhydrating n'ijedium;Y and-the cooling zoneconnectef-toj mean-'s1 to Lv.lil

vsupportirig the product .foiib'eidehydriatd drive-tile* 'cause the; flower' lcooling medium relative `to the dehydrated product. y V y Inisenother object. ofthe inventionztoipbviue inapparatgsiof uns' chareter adjustable; resilient impara longitudinal ,movement irjitermmgnny ,to .the/,saisine one directieri' ,and cooperate with ,movement of thefcasing,,andfbyth fedirig 4ofthe producten medecks:

Itis@ further object ofmevivemjiq @provide in, ap-partusjof, this",chafactenimpmved product suppftidecks; dmlsing'f a' fr@ 61111 side' members" and#,crqssmembersjofiiess w1-cth members being provided with cutout porti'rsjfer the dmissionvand circulationof ,the dehydrting medium and cooling' air relative. totheproductpn ,downwardlisinuous'Stream1er streams; relative: 110 the dccksi l 'A fermer -ojece fnieinventin reglgztestidgoie acter: forward' of the .blanchingi gonernens includingrotatablebrushes for fedirvl'gandsgidpart of-tni'sapplication;

@barst-,usf enidecks?.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation and onlan enlarged scale to show the means to feed the product to be dehydrated in a layer onto the decks.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a portion of the product, such as a potato, to be dehydrated to show the manner of preparing the same prior to dehydration.

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the product to be dehydrated reduced to cubiform.

Figure l1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the feeding end of the casing and showing the feeding means in relation to the decks, the section being taken on the line H of Figure 5.

Figure 12 is a perspective View of a portion of a guide plate provided with spring ngers for directing the product to be dehydrated to the feeding brushes.

` Figure 13 is a perspective view of a portion of a comb adapted to strip from the feeding brushes the fed product which may adhere to the brushes.

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line lll-I4 of Figure 11 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe upper portion of the casing taken on the line I5'-I 5 of Figure 5.

`Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on the line I-I-G of Figure 1.

'Figurel'l is a detail view in side elevation Aof adjustable mounting 'means for the resilient supporting means for the casing with an intermediate portion of the' resilient member broken away.

A'Figure 18 is a iront elevation of the resilient 'supporting means for the casing taken on the line ll-l'l of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. y

1, 17, 18 and 19) spaced along the opposite sides of the casing and declining in a direction from the feed end to the discharge end of the casing at an angle less than a right angle to the horizontal. The resilient leaf members 29 are adjustably secured at one end to sills S mounted on the foundation to extend parallelly of each other at opposite sides of the casing and adjustably secured at the upper ends to beams 30 extending parallelly of opposite sides of the casing and secured thereto. The means for mounting the resilient members on the sills and beams are the same and it is, therefore, deemed to be suicient to describe one of said mounting means. As shown in Figures 17, 18 and 19 brackets 3l in the h form of plates of rectangular shape have the op- FigureV 19 kis 'a sectional view taken on the line IS-I 9 of Figure 17.

"Figures 20 and 21 are perspective views of different sections of the desks.

Figure 22 is a'longitudinal sectional view of a deck taken on the line 22-22 of Figure 21. Figure 23 is an end elevation looking at the left of Figure 22 to show the superposed mounting of the decks.

Figure 24 isa Sectional View ytaken on the une vk2li-2d of Figure 22.

Figure 25 is a sectional view of the blanching zone taken on the line 25-25 of Figure 5.

Figure 26 is a perspective View of one of the Vtion illustrated in the drawings there is provided an elongated casing E of rectangular form in cross section and consisting of a bottom a, sides b and a removable top c and open at the rear or discharge end ofthe casing. The forward or feeding end of the side walls of the casing decline downwardly and forwardly from the top to the bottom of the casing, as shown at 28 in Figure 11.

The casing is supported from a suitable base or foundation by resilient supporting means comprising a series of leaf spring members 29 (Figures Aposite longitudinal `marginal portions flanged laterally and then outwardly, as at 32, and are mounted on the outer sides of the beams and sills with the portions 32 engaging Aand extending longitudinally of the same and secured thereto by screws or bolts 33. The brackets for mounting the resilient members at the upper ends on the beams is of greater length than the brackets for mounting the resilient members at the lower ends on the sills S. To mount the resilient supporting members 29 on the brackets 32 each of said brackets is provided with an arcuate slot 3l' extending diagonally of the brackets from adjacent the upper right hand corner to the lower left hand corner as viewed in Figure 17, the slots in the brackets lxed on the -beam being in an are of a circle having a longer radius than the slots in the brackets mounted on the sills. The resilient members are adjustably connected to the mounting brackets 3l by securing said members at one end to an angle portion of angle members 34 by bolts, as at 35. The angle members are mounted at the other angle portion on the brackets 3l by studs 36 fixedat one end in plates 31 engaging at the rear of the brackets 3l and the studs engaged in the bracket slots 3|', the studs having a portion of rectangular form in cross section engaging the bracket slots 3l. The free end of the 'studs are screw threaded and extend through an although it may consist of sheet material having' expanded openings therein, and in some instances sheet material will serve the purpose. The material supporting decks are mounted and sup- .ported in superposed relation in the casing with the lower deck engaging the bottom of the casing and the top of the casing engaging the uppermost deck and retaining the decks assembled in the casing. The decks extend longitudinally of the casing and while they may be arranged in one piece each deck preferably consists of a series of longitudinal sections and arranged with means to separate the casing into a series of zones, in the present instance a blanching zone, primary and final dehydrating zones and a cooling zone. The blanching vzone at the forward end Vof the casing is of `a length as indicated by A. in Figure 15. The primary dehydrating zone is of a length as indicated at B and approximately ten times the memset 'Jaruatefreeessesv-in the-#opposite side ovallsioffth'e 'fdratingl-zzone','indicated at Cris of'alength onelthirid'-greaterthan vthe lengthi'off the -primaryide- .fhydratihg-zonejandtliepcooling zone'D is approxi- :mately twice kthe-length kof Cthe 'blanching zone.

J'Each deck section comprises aframe voffafwidth `:substantially equal to the .rwidth ofl fthe casing 4and `including sidem'embers '40 and cross members "4l-of a widthflessthan-the width` of the side :members andconnecting the side members .at :the opposite ends and-'the .top 'edge thereof .fand bridgingfthe space-.between the4 side members. Anintermediate member 43'of af widthV equal'to :the widthfof'the side mmbersis disposed mid- /fway of .andl extends parallelly ofLthe' side memlbers'andiextending Abetween .and secured at the .fendsto the-icrossmembers 4l. The intermediate .'member 43 separatesthe ydeckzsections"into apair A'of `Vchannels connected in `communication -with aeachaother, for a 'purpose 'hereinafter "described, c,

'by cut outs `43 extended into y.the bottom Vedge vof :said intermediate member. "Cross .members 44 of a-widthless than the widthof the\cross 'meme :bers -f4'l lextend transversely. of rthe Achannels of 'the'decks and are .securedzat the .endstothe'up-` per marginal portion of said intermediate 'and -and the'sid'e members of `.the deckframes with the cross-:members 44 i'nlone chanel arrangedinv i staggered :relation to the :cross members fin -the other "deck channel; as showninFigur'es "20 andl :21,.andia1so .arranged in staggered relation' to `the icasingpninfthesidemembersfof the decklframes.

:Bythislarrangementialayer 'of''the'produc't to be idehydrated is adaptedftobe moved below the f flexible wall portions ontothe decks andin con- -nection 'with said vvall portions separatethe blanching zone from thev forward' portion' of the casing." 1 Y H y.'Io separate `theblanehing zone from the sucfcessive vprimary dehydrating -zone `flexiblewall portions 48 are attached to the vrear cross member lof ,theI deck 'frames' in thev blanching zone, f'whichfcrdssfmembers are ofslightly greater width .fcorresponding cross "members /o'f .thel nextadjacent-,deck frames, asshowninFigure 22. The

product support of the l.frames :M isa-secured to Atheitop of the intermediate and side members by :rails 45 superposed to them'aterial M andfex- "tending parallelly-:of and :secured tothev inter- '.'mediate and sidelframemembers, the iside mar- ;ginal portionsof said supporting `material `prefeerably .are anged laterallyand vengage in recesses -in the side frame members', `as shown at`461i`n .Figures 23 and l24. l A 'l I yThe, deck. sections "in'the `blanching zone A are `(separated `from the feeding end offthe casing by cross members 41 extend transversely between ,of .the :casing withthe top surfacefof said'fcross 4members extending `in Ithe 'plane offthe to'psur- :face-'of the -cro'ss members-4l of the deck frames.

These-'cross 'members '4 1 are of" greaterv width' `'than-fthe cross lmembers 4| of the deck frames y -tand of :less width than the 'intermediate and' side -frame vmembers lproviding a space between said .fcr'ossmembers 4l and the supporting material of the frames, as shown in Figure llfor feeding :material below: said -cross -members-41 "ontowthe -decks in the blanchin'g zone, To "feed the 'prod- -uct onto the decks in the--blanching zoney while maintaining -said/.zone shut -off froml the 'feeding vend of the casing-wall portions o'i4 exiblefma- 'teraL in the nature of curtains; are suspended from the cross .members :.41 (by L'-attachingsaid wall A :portionsfat a f sidel marginal rportion to "the: front :surface of said crosssmerribersk 41 near thelowe'r edge thereof, as. iat, 49. These wall. portions 48 yarefof a'length 'substantially equal tothe width .of the casing and. diver'gerearwardly throughthe .spaces below the 'cross members 41 andA are :weighted and vsupported yat the lower marginal portion in predetermined .position above the supportingr member M ofthe Adecks and to have movement toward and away therefrom. For this .purpose atroci 150 is extended through a hem .or -floopsat the lower .free'. marginal portion of said .wanziportions.zslidablyi reri'ga'gir'rg' at lthe ends of^ said 'deck'iramea as'shown in Figure 15. .The l"curtains `48 Vareattac'zlied to vand suspended from fsaid c'rossmembe'rssimilar to connectingth'ecur.- itains 48 "to the "cross members 41 'and the lower vends Iare weighted and 'supported in a similar .manner by rodsf50\,"and 'said end of the curtains .engage-"with the product to kbe dehydrated on thefsupporting surface 'of' the forward deck vsectionsin the .primary dehydrating Zone.- The primary-dehydrati'ngzone, as stated, is approximately 'ten times the lengthl 'of the b-lanchirig zone, -and two-ofthefdeck sections as shown in Figures-20 and2l 'are arranged-endwise and A`s'uperposed in said dehydratihg zone. Said'priblanching'z'on'e 'by 'a' curtain -"or flexible wall :48, fands separated 'from the successive nal dehydra'tingzone by a similar curtain ds'uspended from the crcss-member4l at' therear end lof `thefseco'nd deck, section intheprimary dehydrating zone, rand said curtains weighted and supfrported' atfth'e lower 'e'ndfby rods similar tothe rods 5l)` asfhereinbeforefset"forth,'and as shown at 52'in'Figure1'5. The forward end portionofthe side members 40 ofthe forward Adeck frame sections in -said primary'dehydrating zone vhave cut :out portions, asfat 53, for the admission of "a dehydratin'g medium, such'f as lheated air, to the 4'channels in Athe 'deck frames in said zone, and

the-side members ofthe vsuccessive deck frame '-45 and securedatftheends to the opposite sidewalls rsections in said zone are cut away, as at 54, and 'said 'cut outs constituting' outlets for the dehydrating medium from the channels inth'e deck E'frames in said fzone. Flexible"wall portions or 'curtains' 4-8 are also suspended from the cross 'member l4I at the rear endofthe'sec'ond section 'of the'fdeck frames in said zone similar` tothe l"flexible wall portions or curtains described in -c'onnecti'on with the cross members 41 to separate fthe primary dehydrat'ng zoneB 'from the nal delyd-ratingzone C, as shown'a't 55 in Figure l5.`

The nal dehydr'ating zone, as stated, is ofv a length 'one-third greater than the primaryua.

hydrating zone, and the decks insaid zone con'- sist of three sections as 4shown in Figures=20and 21, which constitute theend sections of the decks in said z'on'e and there is provided a further sec` ing zone A, as stated, and the exible wall or curtain is also arranged to be suspended from the cross member 4| at the rear end of the deck frames in said zone D, as shown at 51, in Figure 15. The side members of the deck frames in said cooling zone D are provided with cut outs 58, as shown in Figure 1, the cut outs in one side member constituting an inlet for a cooling medium, as air, and the cut outs in the other side member of said deck frames constituting outlets for'said cooling medium,

To feed material or the product to be dehydrated onto the surface M of the respective decks a trough like member 59 is mounted in inverted position at the open top on the declining' front end of the casing, the lower end of said trough being closed and the upper end provided with a feeding hopper 60, as shown in Figure 1. The trough is separated longitudinally into two chambers by a partition, as shown at El in Figure 11. Decks to support the product to be dehydrated,

consisting of sheet material M', are secured atV one end upon the cross members 41 and extend forward of said members to and are secured at the forward marginal portion upon cross members 62 extending transversely between and secured at the ends to the intermediate trough partition and the side walls of the trough 59. Said deck material M' is also secured to rails E3 mounted at one end on the cross members 41 and at the opposite end on the trough separating partition Gl, and similar rails may be attached to the opposite side walls of the casing,

Circular brushes 64 to rotate in the trough .chambers are mounted on shafts 65 journalled in the side walls and the separatingr partition of the trough in superposed stepped relation to the cross members 62 and space above the decks M', as shown in Figure 11. Theproduct to be dehydrated delivered into the trough from the hopper 60 is directed to the brushes to be fed by the brushes onto the decks `M' by chutes formed by walls of sheet material 66 (Figure 1l) having one end curved and 'slitted inwardly to provide the same with spring ngers 61 (Figure 12) and having a stiifening and reinforcing bead or wire 68 at the opposite end. These sheet members are supported at the opposite edge portions in grooves mortised into the opposite surfaces of the separating partition andV in the side walls of the trough, in which the opposite marginal edge portions of the sheet members are slidably engaged by endwise movement and the upper end portion of said grooves being enlarged for the reception of the reinforcing beads 68 to support the walls E6. The spring finger end of the plates 68 are free and extend to an abutment 69 mounted on the cross member B2 below and in line with the axis of the brushes. The bottom of the trough member is spaced from the reinforced end of the plates and thus provides a passage between the bottom of the trough and the reinforced ends of the plates, as shown in Figure 11, the product t be dehydrated delivered into said passage from the hopper till` passing into the chutes formed between adjacent plates 66 and is directed to the space between the brushes and the resilient iingers 61 of the plates. To prevent such product entering into the spaces between the top of the brushes and the next upper plate 66 auxiliary guide plates 'l0 extend transversely of the plates 6B parallelly of the brushes and are attached at one marginal portion to the plates 66 and diverge vdownwardly therefrom over the top of the brushes, as shown in Figure 1i.` To feed a prodproduct on the spring fingers of the plates 66 be of aV thickness greater than such space it will move s'aid fingers below the top of the abutment andthe abutment will be engaged by and strip the lower from the upper portion of the layer and permit Vfeeding only a porti-on from the top of the layer of the product presented to the brushes.` To strip from the brushes any of the product that might adhere thereto a comb 'H (Figures 11 and 13) is fixed to the bottom of each cross bar 62 to extend longitudinally thereof with the teeth of the combs extending laterally from the members 52 toward the brushes. The upper wall of the trough is provided with a window or windows 12 through which to observe the operation of the feeding means.

The feeding brushes are rotated from an elec tric motor M" mounted on the bottom of the casing and operatively connected to a speed reducing mechanism i6 by a V belt 'I3 (Figure 6) rpassing around one of a series of stepped V faces of a pulley I4 fixed on the motor shaft and the stepped V faces of a pulley l5 fixed on the input shaft of the speed reducing mechanism whereby said shaft may be rotated at different speeds. The speed reducing mechanism is operatively connected to the brushes by a sprocket chain 'l1 passing around a sprocket Wheel 18 on the output shaft of the speed reducing mechanism and a `spr-ocket Wheel '19 xed on a shaft 80 journalled in a bracket 8| fixed to the casing and the rotation of said shaft B0 transmittedA to the brush carrying shafts by a sprocket chain 82 passing 'around a sprocket wheel 83 fixed on the shaft 80 and a sprocket wheel 84 fixed to the end of the shaft of the uppermost brush carrying shaft B5 extending from a side of the trough 59. The sprocket chain 82 travels inthe direction to rotate the brushes in the direction indicated by the arrows by the upper stretch of the sprocket chain 82 travelling relative to the sprocket wheels 85 fixed on each of the brush shafts, suitable means;

being provided to guide the chain to and maintain it in operative engagement with the sprocket wheels.

The product fed onto the decks M are fed along said decks to and along the decks in the respective zones in the casing E by an intermittent movement thereof and imparted thereto by the vibratory ,movement of the casing. To impart vibratory movement to the casing and the decks therein means are provided to impart intermittent longitudinal-movement to the casing in a direction toward the discharge end of the casing and subjecting the leaf spring supports 29 for the casing to intermittent tensioning forces acting to impart return movement to the casing. This means comprises as shown a pair of cams 8S fixed on the opposite end portions of a shaft 81 at opposite sides of the casing, the shaft being journalled in bearing members 88 mounted upon the supporting base and rotated from a'motor M" Vby a sprocket chain 89 passing around sprocket Ywheels fixed on the shaftof said motor and the shaft 81. 'I'he rotation of the cams 86 is transaaaogsas:

tion. forwardly of 'the casingrandhave. aeb'ifurcate'd member 927 on the lower .end thereof. straddlirrg land engaging a i'groove'in collars oiixed on 4*the shaft 8T ljuxtaposed. to `the cams'. and :said .bifur-L cated members rotatably carrying .rollers 194' .to

follow thecams, :atar-secured to and-extending transversely .of :theibiiurcation legs of said mem-Iy berl preventing V.the same from.rv moving laterally from thershaft. The-spring leaves ina-supporting .the .casing are disposed at an langle. less than a righi-angle Ito the horizontaland asvthe casing is moved'torwardly -by the rods through the rotation of thecams-- theYspringrsupportin-g*leaves are moved forward'and lsaid 'movement' slightly elevating thel casing and subie'c'tingthe leaf" sup-'-r ports :to a tensioning stress actingwto move the casing rearwardlyI and downwardly when the cam rollers ride off rom'the cams and? said movement of th'ecasing 'actingfto lift Athe=product from the decks landfcause it to assume av forward position on the decks-as thedecks arereturned to initial position'. "Ilo erlect'al faster feeding `of 'the product -on the/'decks at 'the forward end"v than -at 4the discharge lend of they decks thespring leavesl at the` lfeer'ii-ng end 'of the casing are diposed ai; `a

` lesser angle to the horizontal, say "70 degrees to the horizontal, at'thefeedingendlthan att-he discharge Vend Where saidspr'ingleavesare disposed atan angle of l80 degrees tothe horizontal. Oi course,'theseangularjpositionsof'thespringleaves may-lbevaried 17o-Vary the'feedingoffthe product on the decks, since-certain productsmust be' subiected to the 'dehydratingaction tor 'a' longer period of time 'to dehydratethe 4sa'rneth'an other products.

To blanch the .product in 'the balancing zone steam, vpreferably-superheaterl' steam.. `is .admitted into said zonejby' suitable means; :and as shown in Figure 25 consisting of 'apipeS'S-leading from a source of the steam and havingvbranch pipes '9d connected at one end thereto; and. extending through a sidewall off the casing andcut outs in the side members. dlljo the .deck '.ramesYQFigure 26) into the blanching Zone'. The opposite ends of the 'loranchpipes' areY closed. by perforated vcaps 91 for discharging the' steam into .one channel of the deck vframes, and said "branchfpipes having perforations 'QB 'in the. side 'wall' for discharging steam into the other channel of the deckirames. Condensation Water of' the steam .collects in the bottom of 4the casingV and' isV drained therefrom throughtubular outlet; membersSS'.,

The primary dehyldratingl zone 'B is-connected at the forward end Lto a source oiheated. air having a high .temperaturasay above 209. degreesF.

landllS caused to flow longitudinally of thedeok channelsin the. directionilof .leading the,A product onjthev decks. For tl'if'spurpose the. oppositeside walls ofthe casing-at 'the .lorwardend of. .zone .B are provided with rectangular openings. extending 'from the topto'the bdttom ofthe, casing in line with. the openings .53..inthe side members of the forward section. .of thedeck, :tramesY in. `said zone.

The'casing .openings .have a laterally extending wall disposed aboutthe same, asshoWn-atY M10 and l|\|l in-Figure 2. Manifolds H12- 'conform-ing. in shape to :said :casingfopeningsrhaving'anfop'en- 'mgm one side andfat Whichside. they are disposedfpvithin thefwallportionsrabouttheopenings 1111);.' wir,v .as show-n .at |02. The vmanifold .foonnected tothe casing-opening lfllllis connected at thets'defoppcs'rte .said connection with 'the casing by .a pipez'llD-l to the Ioutlet of a .fan F by branch pipesl D5, 10.6?, and. the manifold :connected to the casing opening -I'll is connected atthe lower end by'pipe lrextending below the casing tothe pipe NT4. openingsusimilar tol the openings mi), L01 are .arranged vin vthe kopposite .side walls 'of the,v

casing. at .the rear lend of the zone vB and' having manifolds4 1.02 vsimilarto 'the ymanifolds 02 connected to :sai-d openingsv and which manifolds lare connected bybranch'pipes |101', l'ito-azpipe connectedV to La'pipe 'in communication with the inlet tothe tan'Ffand apipe` Hfll connected to I.a source ofthe heated Iair 'by la pipe -|l| |.k To maintain va substratntialllyv ai-r tight connected between-the manifolds |112, 4'Nl-2 and thewallsl about the cas'- i'ng openings Ja flexible -mefmb er conforming to the shapeiof` the `manifolds issecured at one-end to the wallsabout thecasingoperrings and friction` ally engage-themanitoldsgasat |03. To control the direction yarid varythe flow'of'thejair from the pipe tllltinto the branch pipes 10S-,.1106 and from thel branch pipes |f0-1 |08 into 'fthe pipe |09l deie'ctor pla-tes "I l2 are pivotally mounted at one longitudinal edge portion-to have 1adjustment `on avertical axis` inthe pipeslf", `109 at the 'junc-4 To lvariably Ic'lire'ot the flow 'of the "air from'the manifolds'fl 02, I 02 into theair 'inlet' openings lin 'the one side wall-'of the vvoasingand the openings 53fin'thesidemembers of 'the deckrrames inkzone Band 'from the deck"frames throughthe openf ings 54 the-A Sdcjmembers." of 'the deck frames and l'mrough'the ouftlet'openings in the side walls of thercasinginto the'manifolds |112 avertic'al row of'louvers ll-S- are supportedftohavejpivotal adjustment, on a horizontal axis in 'said manifolds,

' saidpintles. attheouter sideof the, maniioldsto manually adjust. the louvers., the ...louvers being releasablyr retained adjust-,edY position .by a spring deten-t. 12|., which. maybe `xed on the knobs; engagingV notches in arcuatemembers. 1.22

fiXed..to.the-outerside. of the Acasing and may be secured in. adjusted position by means-:extended through. an .opening .in the. de'tentsand engaging thewall of the manifold, as atl-21'. To observe the positionof the louvers the mani-folds are provided-with windows, such asa glass platemounted in thewall of the manifolds, asat |23. The outletpipel 0.9 vconnected to thebranch outlet pipes 1.9.1, |08 may have .an-opening |24. therein for exhausting, as to the atmospheraaporton of the air ladenA with moisture absorbed `from the yproductintheprimary dehydrating zone B and discharged into-the pipesJ |11,l w8.

Air heatedto below a case hardening temperature say' of less than .160 degrees isladmitted to.l and 'caused to :dow through and be discharged 'from the .finaldehydratingizone- C; For'thisf purposeaopenings similar to fthe openings lull, lfl areprovided-in the opposite side-walls ofthefcasing at opposite ends of said zone in line with openings 53 and 54 in the side members of the deck frame sections at the forward end and rear end of said zones. manifolds |02, |02 are connected to said openings in the casing and the manifolds having the louvers IIB arranged therein to direct and control the flow of air from the manifolds to the product supporting decks in said zone of the casing to and through the outlet openings in the side walls of the casing and the manifolds connected thereto. The air is caused to flow in the iinal dehydrating zone C in a direction reverse to the direction of feeding of the product on the decks, and for convenience the inlet and outlet manifolds and the branch pipes connected thereto have been given the same reference characters as the manifolds connected to the primary dehydrating zone B and the branch pipes connected thereto. The inlet manifolds |02, as stated, are connected to the rear end of the final dehydrating zone C and the branch inlet pipes |05, |06 connected to the outlet o f a fan F by a pipe |23', and the outlet manifolds |02' are connected by the branch pipes |01, |08 by a pipe |24 to a pipe |25 connected to the inlet of the fan F' and the latter pipe connected by a pipe |26 to a source of the heated air. The pipe |24' may also have an opening |21 to exhaust, as to the atmosphere, a part-of the air discharged from the final dehydrating zone C. To direct and control the flow of the air from the pipe |23 to the branchinlet pipes |05, |06 and from the branch outlet pipes |01, |08 to the pipe |24 defiectors ||2' are pivotally mounted at one longitudinal edge portion in the p'pes |23, |24 to have adjustment on a vertical axis.

-To subject the dehydrated product to-a cooling 4medium as it is fed through the cooling zone D openings are provided in the opposite side walls of the casing in line with openings in the side members of the deck frames in said zone, and said openings in the casing and the side members of the deck frames may be of a length slightly less than the length of said zone and the deck frames. Y A fan F" is connected to the openings in one side of the c asing to discharge or draw a cooling air into said zone of the casing and over the dehydrated product on the decks therein and through the openings in the `opposite side wall of the casing.

In the operation of the apparatus for carrying out the method of dehydration the product tobe dehydrated is filled into the hopper at the feeding end of the casing and from which hopper it drops into the chutes and the spaces between the spring fingers at one end of the chute walls and the brushes and by the rotation of the brushes is fed in a layer onto the decks M' at the feeding end of the casing. The product fed onto said decks is fed by the vibratory movement of the casing on said decks relative to the blanching zone A in which zone it is subjected to the action of the superheated steam admitted into said zone not only effecting a blanching of the product but also absorbing the surface moisture on and heating the product. Simultaneously with blanching thel product certain products,` such as spinach, peas and beans may be subjected to the action of a suitable medium to preserve the color, flavor and food value of the product, ammonia having been found suitable for the purpose. This medium may be admitted into the blanching zone with the steam for which purpose a pipe |30 connected to a source of the preserving medium Manifolds similar to the' has a valve controlled connection with the steam supply pipe, and ksaid latter pipe may also have a valved controlled connection with the source of the steam. From the blanching zone A the product is fed progressively on the decks into the primary dehydrating zone B where it is subjected to a heated huid, such as air or other gas, delivered into one end of the channels of the deck frames in said zone through the manifolds |02 and discharged from the opposite end of said deck channels in saidzone through the manifolds |02. The air as it flows through said zone is caused to flow in a lateral undulating path or stream from one channel into the other channel of the deck fra-mes as it flows longitudinally of said zone by the provision of the cut outs in the intermediate member ofthe deck frames and thus facilitate the transfer of the moisture content of the product to and absorbed by the dehydrating air. Simultaneously with this lateral undulating now of the air the air is caused to flow in a vertical undulating path or paths, which is effected by the cross members 44 extending transversely of the top of the channels of the deck frames. By the arrangement of the air deecting cross members M as described the air entering the spaces between the decks is deected and caused to fiow in a downward direction and is impinged upon the product upon the decks and thereby deflected in an upward directionto the next defiector member 44 and the bottom of the superposed deck and this undulating flow of the air continues to the end of the zone B. The high temperature of the dehydrating fluid in zone B effects a quick absorption of the moisture content of the product and if the product were subjected to said temperature to the final dehydrating of the product it would possibly scorch the product or produce a coating on the product and thus preventy the capillary flow of the moisture in the product to the surface thereof for vabsorption by the heated air. To obviate this the product as it is fed relative to the final dehydrating zone C is subjected to the action of a uid having a temperature below a case hardening temperature and thereby effect the final dehydration of the product. The ow of the air through the primary dehydrating zone is in the direction of feeding the product on the decks, whereas in the iinal dehydrating zone C the air flows in a direction reverse to the feeding of the product on the Vdecks by admitting the heated air into said zone at the rear end thereof and discharging it from the forward end. The structure of the deck frames in zone C is the same as that in zone B to cause lateral and vertical undulating flow of the air. As the product is fed on the deck relative to the cooling zone D it is subjected to the action of a cooling medium, such as air, as described.

The productas it is fed from the feed end to the discharge end of the decks yis progressively reduced in bulk due to the dissipation of the Water constituent of the product, and to maintain a sufficient quantity of the product on the decks to practically cover the same and effect a more eiicient operation of the apparatus, the product is fed at a progressively reduced rate on the decks from the feeding end to the discharge end of the decks and in effect producing a crowding of the product to the discharge end. This is accomplished by producing greater vibratory movement ofthe casing and thereby of the decks at the feed end than at the discharge end by the angular adjustment of the casing supporting leaf springs.

assumes:

casingrthe side Walls iejfiithe'l casing may 'be lpro-I videdfwvthwindows 13! -dispused relative/tothe'. feeding 2 end Sand'fthe `deHydrating 'zones and such` windbws'.fairedisposed` relative to cut' outs'in the' apposite side@membersof` the deck frames V`Various1modiiicati'ons may 'fbe' v-nri'ade-in the cen'- struction .0f the pantswi'thout' :departing-drum them-scope' ef'theinverition, and portions o the' apparatus lmay used" without others 'and-'come' withinitheiscopefoithe invention: I

Having described' my invention, I ycl'aiinz 1. In dehydratingfapparatus, anlelonga'ted cas in'g'; means'forming superposedfdecks 5iii'and"^ex terrding'longitudinallly 'fof ther ycasing' t@ support theeproduct to' lbe dehydrated means-"for-iee'ding' the'` product onto' the decksat oneend' ofthe casing; resilient supporting means" for fthe' Icas-iin; andzmefalns soperative' to'- inter-mitter1-tly1v -mcve the' casing ilongitudina'lly invone ,diredtibrrandf-in'C-cbnjunnti'onrwith the'ues'ilient suppmtingf'means im- `longitudi'nal 4vVibratury v'rnwerner-1t" tu 'the casing: eilect'feeding -o productv o'n the decks iirom fthe feeding-endif te*c the' discharge end' ofthe" teasing; and? means fior 1 connecting-the' cas- A ingf tba airzseurce :of'and circulating' afrieated' 'me'. diumzthrougn the'fcasing'to dehydrate the -'prod` uction tledecks. l

f2s,n'fdehydraitingapparatus, anrelonga'ted cas'. ing, decks mounted in superpescdispacedreiation inftlie .casing'andIfextendingfiongitudinaiiifthereeftofsuppertfthe product to be fdeiiydifatedi 'means attcne: en'dfc the Icasing fbrifeeding f the 'pruduc't in' a rlayen'ontc' 'the` :decks: pairs: fof" plates uit re-r silientsniaterial'secured atene end At'o opposite' sides*y .of :andispacedflbngitudinally'cf the casi-ng andzextendingidownwardly ftiiereiiomfand mount-- edziat thezoppcsitevend 'lony a supporting '-baset'o na'llyf'i'to predetermined p'ositionfin one direction,

the teasing- :against `ith'e resiliency :of 'vsaidsupporting plates, andvsai'dsupporting-'platesfmmfing 'the' casing in: dine"v pppusite directienl andimparting vibratory" movement to v it'nei casingfand' thereby feed .iil'ie'zproduct un tneedecks vfrom thel eeden'd' tjo" andxii'sphangmgl 'th'ezfsame' fromV the decks at the'zoppusite end of tliefcasin'g.

- :3i: Dehydrating-.japparatus 'as claimed' in' claim' l; tvlis'arein the' @means to' -feed the product nnte' the decks' comprises ar fserie's of: 'rotatable .brushesspacedlupwardlyf:troncand'Lextendingtransverseiyofithe entrancefend' lof therzdecks, verticalplates extending-.transversely of.' the casing' forward 'of ,the brushes' having' the' 'lowerr lend portion ar'` vertical plates and declining end Wafllzofthecas` ing-*ttc deliver the,product'lbetweensaidlplates and brushes; y.and combs'at the rear 'of :and .extending` parallelly foff'zthe' brushesl to 'strip fram the ,brushes any-product .adherngtheretoz f5; Dehydratingfapparatus las:claimed 'in :claim 1;whereinthe'fentran'ce fendlcf th'ei` decks lare disposediinfstepped' relationw'and' the -:means to feed the product to; 'the ldeck-'sz comprises `rotatableA brusheszspafced: abowe-andextending transversely 'of' the.:.ends.-nf the vdecks' abutments 'extending parallelly lcf. :andfbelow' .the brushes, plates 'extendingfvertically :andi transversely i 'o'f 4the casing parall'eily. cftand'spacied forward ofthe vbrushes andtlieztfree'lluwer yendsarranged with spring fingers'curvedteward'anditerminating below .the brushes in' parail'e'llrelation'to :the fabutm'ents; and the spring iingers'fo' said plates adapted 'to ibe: sprung fawvayfrn' utile-brushes :by tliezfeeding :of superposed zpnrtiunsisofathe product :and :cause the' lower'portionruf tbexrprnfdiict to engage'tne abut'- meirtfeandxstrip and eed fassuperppsed. 'portion of' the?` product-inra layernnto' theid'e'cks.

(61.111- denydratingapparatus. as claimed. in claim 2; means toxadjustablyfcennect the 'resilient` casinav supportingfp'lates to' theirsupport 'andthe casing terraryftneevibratory :movement imparted to the casing andfthefeedingrnzfi'the producten tirerdecksizfrcnfr fthe-:feed :end 'tothe Adischarge end ofitheadeeks.'

Delrydiating: apparatus :as: 'claimed in claim;

, 1,:Whereinf'tzhe produdtzsupportingdecks 'comprise andimeanstozinltermit'tently impart'movementnto' e ing'and'the decks 'termina-'te.equal-dstancestfrum t saidend wail', an'ditiie'meansto feed'tne product' onto' tbev decks comprises rotatable'jbrushes' spaced above' andex'tending"transversely of 4thetenti-ance end ofthe decks, plates extendingtransversely' and?Ver-ticallirr of'the' casing 'and spaced'fforWa-rdly of the brushes with the upper' end terminating equal: distances'. from: the; declining' end 'wall -of the. casing; and arranged` withxspring: fingers' fait' the-lowerfendlcurvedftnwardfiandaterminatingibe av fname' swbstaintiazl'lyqual' tot the' 'Width .of' :the

casing'` yand including 'side' members connected4 at theaendsradfacent" trie'I tepby crossy rn'ernizersbridgingv 'the 'spacer between' the' liside. members, afsupportingiimernbeirjur the product '-rsecured'y to' the top of and extending between said rarn'e members,:andzxrailssuperpnsed to said supporti-ng memb'erisecimedvtcthe toproi and extending parf-v alleliyrni; thesiderframeunembers, andasaid 'frame members:- xii'aving'. openings'A adapted to: Aregister Withtiopeningsziinithe siderwalls of ,the casing for they admissionziand the' circulation andi discharge ofxsaidheatingrmedium toidebydrate'the productv ein'k 't-ne decks.l

i8: 'Delrydrating apparatus',asz claimed" in claim 11;."whe1'ein eachroiithe product supporting decks co-mpriseszairamev'of .a-iwifdth' ysubstantially equal',` t'o'theWidth.uff'I the teasing, and' including side mern'bers'zcdrmected'zatxthe ends adjacent the' uppeze'dgeny' crussbars ofle'sswidth than the side 'membersemdthe-'fsidezmembers having cutout portibns adjacent the end` adapted'to register withI ppenings-iin 'the iside' Walls ofi` the casing, said nutteuts'at 'une endnf.' the "frames constitutn ingr-inlets? f'n-r heated air tov flow relativetto the product von' the decksand the' cut outs at' the` apposite'endaconstitutingoutlets for said air, a

rnenfiber:extending paral'lellyr` off Aand' midway be-A tween the isifde'- members separating the deck 'into 'clearnvmls` and' -said'mernberl havingcut` outs extended into' the' bottom edge andEA spaced" lnngitudinazllys thereof connect-ine"v the channel'se'in' communicatibn and' causing ya lateral undulating ,fl'owhoif the' air fromy one channel tothe fotlierrchannel,A a foraminous material secured tothel topv of said fra-me' members, rails supenpcsed to and extending' .parallelly of 'the sidezand' intermediatemembers, iand cross .meinbers'fof'le'ss Widthuthanand secured" to the upper' portion ofi saidt intermediate and: side members tmeXtend transversely' of'` the deck channels and" adapted to deect and cause the air to flow in an upward and downward undulating path in said channels.

9, In dehydrating apparatus, a casing, supporting decks for the product to be dehydrated mounted in superposed spaced relation in the casing, means in the forward end of the casing for feeding the product onto the decks, means to resiliently support and impart longitudinal vibratory movement to the casing to feed the product on the decks from the feeding end to the opposite end of the decks, members of flexible material suspended from and extending transversely of the decks separating the casing into a blanching zone at the feeding end, successive primary and final dehydrating zones and a cooling zone, means to connect and supply superheated steam to the blanching zone above each deck therein, manifolds extending from the top to the bottom of oppo-site sides of the casing at the opposite ends of the dehydrating zones and opening through the side walls to the casing to opposite ends of the decks, and said manifolds' adapted for connecting said zones independently in circulation with a. heated air supply, and the oppositeside walls of thecasing at the cooling zone having openings therein, and means to connect said latter openings in one side wall of the casing to means to induce theflow of a cooling medium transversely .of the decks.

10. Dehydrating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means to supply superheated steam to the blanching zone comprises a pipe extending vertically of a side of the casing adapted to be connected to a source of superheated steam. and branch [pipes connected to said pipe extended through the side wall of the casing to extend transversely thereof relative to the decks and having discharge orifices opening to said zone.

li. Dehydrating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the manifolds connected to the forward and rear ends of the primary dehydrating zone are connected to a source of heated air to cause the flow of said air through said zone in thev direction of feeding the product, and the manifolds connected to the forward and rear ends of the final dehydrating zone are connected to the source of heated air to cause said air to flow thro-ugh said zone in a direction reverse to' the feeding of the product on the decks.

12. Dehydrating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means to connect the manifolds opening to the casing at each end of the dehydrating zones, comprises a conduit in communication with each manifold, a main conduit connected to the heated air supply connected to the conduits in communication with the manifolds opening to each `end of said zones, and adjustable means mounted in the main conduits at the connection thereof with and between the conduits in communication at one end of each zone to direct and control the ow of the air from said main con-duits in communication with said manifolds and direct and control the flow of the air from the conduits connected to the manifolds in communication with the opposite end of each zone into the main conduits connected thereto.

13. Dehydrating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means to connect the manifolds opening to the casing at each end of the dehydrating zones with `the heated air supply, comprises a conduit in communication with each manifold, a main conduit connected to the heated air supply connected to the conduits in communication with the manifolds to each end of said zones, a deflector plate pivotally supported to have movement on one of its longitudinal edge portions in the main conduits at the connection thereof with and between the conduits in communication with the manifolds at one end of each zone to direct an-d control the flow of the air from said main conduits into the conduits connected thereto and direct and control the flow of the air from the conduits in communication with the manifolds at the opposite end of each of said zones into the main conduits connected thereto, and means mounted on the pivot of said deflector plates to manually adjust the same.

14. Dehydrating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means to connect the supporting plates of resilient material to the casing and their supports, comprise a pair of beams one :fixed to each side of and extending longitudinally of the casing and the supports include parallelly extending sills, bracket plates having the opposite marginal portions offset laterally and at which offset portions the brackets are xed to the beams and sills with the intermediate portion of the brackets spaced therefrom and having arcuate slots therein, angle members connected by an angle portion at opposite ends of the resilient supporting plates, and means engaging the slot in the brackets to secure the angle members at the other angle portion to the brackets on the beams and sills.

15. Dehydrating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means to intermittently move the casing longitudinally against the resilient force of the supporting plates, comprises rods fixed at one end to the beams to extend downwardly therefrom diagonally to the beams, a motor driven shaft, journalled in bearings and extending transversely below the casing and having cams fixed thereon at the opposite sides of the casing, a bifurcated member connected to the opposite end of each rodstraddling the shaft at the side of the cam, and a roller carried by said bifurcated member to follow the cams.

16. In apparatus for dehydrating fruit, vegetables and other products, an elongated casing, means to resiliently support and impart longitudinal vibratory movement to said casing, decks for supporting the product to be dehydrated mounted in superposed spaced relation in the casing and arranged with means to separate the casing transversely into a series of successive zones, means to supply the product to one end of said decks and said product fed on the decks relative to the successive Zones to the opposite end thereof by the vibratory movement of the decks with the casing, means connected to a source of and discharging steam into the rst zone to 'eifect blanching of the product, means connected to the opposite ends of the successive zones to connect said zones in circulation with a source of fluid heated to a high temperature and cause the same to ow in the direction of feeding of the product on the decks and effect a primary dehydrating of the product, and means connecting the opposite ends of the successive zone in circulation with a source of fluid heated below a case hardening temperature and cause said fluid to flow in a direction reverse to the direction of feeding the product and effect a nal dehydration of the product.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the decks in the dehydrating zones are arranged with means to cause the fluid to iiow in lateral and vertical undulating paths relative to the decks.

18. An apparatus for dehydrating fruit, vegethe material on the decks from the receiving end i to the opposite end of the decks, means connected to a source of a superheated fluid medium and the casing adjacent the end at which the material is supplied tothe decks for discharging said medium into said portion of the casing and subject the material on the decks to` the action of said medium to blanch the material, means connecting a successive section of the casing to a source of and circulating through said section a high temperature fluid medium and effect primary dehydrating of the material, means connecting a successive section of the casing to a source of circulating through'said section a uid medium heated below a case hardening temperature and effect nal dehydrating of the material, and means connecting a successive section to a source of and .causing a cooling medium to flow transversely of the dehydrated material on the decks.

19. In apparatus for dehydrating fruit, vegetables and other materials as claimed in claim 18, means connected to a source of and for discharging into the casing with the superheated fluid medium and subject the material to the action of a medium to preserve the color andflavor of the material.

20. Apparatus for dehydrating fruit, vegetables and other products as claimed in claim 18, wherein the medium discharged into the casing to blanch the material consists of superheated steam, and the fluid medium to preserve the color and flavor of the material consists of ammonia.

21. In apparatus for dehydrating fruit, vegetables and other material, an elongated casing, decks mounted in superposed spaced relation in the casing for supporting material to be deny-- drated, means at one end of the casing to supply a layer of material to the decks, means to impart vibratory movement to the casing with the decks to eiect intermittent turning and progressive movement of the material on the decks from the 'receiving end tothe opposite end of the casing,

means predeterminedly spaced longitudinally of the casing extending transversely thereof above the decks separating the casing into a series of zones, means'connected to a source of mediums for blanching and preserving the color and avor of the material connectedl to and discharge said mediums into the first zone relative to the material on the decks therein, means connected in communication with the opposite ends of the,

successive zone adapted to connect said zone in circulation with a source of a fluid medium heated to a high temperature and causing the same to flow through vsaid zone in the direction of feeding movement of the material on the decks and effect primary dehydrating of the material,` and means connected in communication with the opposite ends of the successive zone adapted to connect the said zone in circulation with ai source of fluid medium heated below a case hardening temperature and cause said iluid medium to flow in a direction reverse to the direction of the feeding movement of the material and effecting iinal dehydrating of the material.

22. Apparatus for dehydrating fruit, vegetables and other material as claimed in claim 18,

wherein the decks are arranged with means be- .tween the sides and disposed longitudinally of the decks to cause the uid mediums to flow ma. sinuous path laterally of the decks and in an upwardly and downwardly undulating path longitudinally of the decks. i

THEODOR VEIT. 

